Device for practising golf strokes



May 5, 1-970 E. RUSPOLI DEVICE FOR PRACTISING GOLF STROKES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1968 y 5, 1970 E. Ruspou 3,510,136

DEVICE FOR PRACTISING GOLF STROKBS Filed March a. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5, 1970 E. RUSPOLI DEVICE FOR PRACTISING GOLF STROKES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 8. 1968 ,4 TTORNEYJ May 5,1970 E. RUSPOLI DEVICE FOR PRACTISING GOLF STROKBS 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Filed March 8. 1968 ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent f 3,510,136 DEVICE FOR PRACTISIWG GOLF STROKES Edmondo Ruspoli, 23 Via Lisbona, Rome, Italy Filed Mar. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 711,594 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 15, 1967, 12,169/ 67 Int. Cl. A6311 69/36, 57/00 US. Cl. 273-185 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongate member forming a sight line is secured to a support which is adapted to be positioned on a putting surface. In its use position, the sight line is spaced above the putting surface to permit'a golf ball to be positioned therebeneath and the head of a golf club to be moved thereunder in striking the ball. A ball positioning member connected to the support enables the ball to be accurately positioned with its center directly below the sight line. The support may include trackways which function to store a supply of golf balls and permit the balls to be moved to a use position under the sight line.

This invention relates to a device for practising golf strokes and more particularly to a device for practising putting strokes.

The present invention provides a device for practising putting strokes which comprises an elongate member adapted to provide a sight line extending above the surface on which practising is carried out, the height of the member above the surface being such that a golf ball can be placed under it and the head of a putter moved under the member to strike the ball so that a person using the device can check the movement of his putter head and the ball by reference to the sight line.

Preferably the device includes means for locating a golf ball under the elongate member in a manner such that the sight line extends exactly over the diameter of the ball. The means for locating the ball can comprise a locating member movable between a first position to allow a golf ball to be located in abutting relationship therewith and a second position where the movement of the ball and the putter head are not impeded. In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention means are provided for automatically dispensing balls in sequence to a position under the sight line.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an elongate support, parts projecting laterally from the ends of the support between which part extends the elongate member constituting the sight line, a first trackway on the support serving as a magazine for golf balls, and a second downwardly sloping trackway on the support having upper and lower ends and communicating with the first trackway, the locating member being pivotally connected to the support adjacent the lower end of the second trackway and normally biassed to its second position, the arrangement being such that a ball can be moved from the first trackway to the second where it rolls downwardly to abut the locating member in the second position of the latter and to overcome the bias to move the lcating member to its first position where the ball is deposited under the sight line, the locating member then being returned by the bias to its second position.

The invention will now be describe d by way of ex ample and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first practice device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of part of the device shown in FIG. 1;

3,510,136 Patented May 5, 1970 ice FIG. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a scrap perspective view of a modification of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective, side and plan views respectively showing a second practice device in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the practice device shown therein is adapted to rest on the ground and comprises an elongate support member 1 of inverted channel section having in its functional position shown a horizontal web 2 and front and rear vertically downwardly directed flanges respectively designated 3 and 4. Attached to the ends of the elongate member 1 are frontwardly extending arms 5, between the ends of which a line member 6 extends parallel to and vertically spaced from the member 1. It will be noted that the elongate support member 1 and the line member 6 are shown broken and shortened. Their length may be of the order of 2 feet.

Each arm 5 is of generally Z shape being constituted by a strip having two right-angled cranks. Thus, each strip has, considering it in its functional position, a first horizontal portion 7 extending across and secured to the web 2, a vertical portion 8 extending vertically above and aligned with the front flange 3 of the elongate support member 1, and a second horizontal portion 9 extending frontwardly from the member 1 parallel to and spaced vertically from the first horizontal portion 7 and the web 2. The portion 9 has an end of the line member 6 secured to it. The first horizontal portion 7 is secured to the web 2 by bolts 10 engaging with elongate internally threaded sleeves 11 at the underside of the web 2. The sleeves 11 are of the same depth as the [flanges 3 and 4 so that, as can be seen in FIG. 3, their undersurfaces rest on the ground and help to stabilise the device in its functional position.

The line member 6, which may be a flexible element such as a cord or wire or a rigid element such as a rod, extends between the ends of the arms 6 parallel to the ground in the functional position of the device shown. The line member 6 is spaced from the ground by a distance of the order of three to four inches, this distance being sufiicient to allow a club head to move underneath the line member 6 but insuflicient to cause significant parallax error in use. The line member 6 may be marked at regular intervals, for example with colours or detachable clips, so that a person using the device can check the length of his putting stroke. At a position on the elongate member 1 intermediate the ends thereof a ball locating member 12 is hingedly connected to the web 2 so that it can swing frontwardly in a vertical are between first and second positions. In the first position the ball 10- cating member 12 extends frontwardly from the elongate support member 1 while in the second position it extends upwardly.

The ball locating member 12 comprises a generally rectangular plate 13 formed of two superimposed plates having its rear marginal part hingedly connected to a front part of the web 2, its side edges extending frontwardly with respect to the web 2 and its front edge defining the upper rear part of a recess in which a ball can be located. Thus, at either end of the rear marginal part of the plate 13 there is provided one upwardly extending lug 14 of a pair of lugs, each lug being bored to receive a pivot pin passing through it. A pair of upwardly extending lugs 15 adapted to register with the lugs 14 are fixed to a front part of the web 2 and the lugs 15 also extend frontwardly from the member 1. The lugs 15 are also bored to receive the pivot pin which passes through the lugs 14. A pivot pin 18 extends horizontally and in the direction of the elongation of the member 1 through the bored lugs 14 and 15 hingedly to connect the plate 13 to the web 2. A post 16 extends upwardly from and at right anglesto the plate 13, this post serving, When the plate 13 is swung towards the member 1, to abut with its enlarged upper end agains the web 2 to locate the ball locating member 12 in its second position. An annular resilient element 17 is provided on the web 2 to receive the upper end of the post 16.

At the front of the plate 13 a recess 19 is defined, the recess 19 being dimensioned to receive, as a snug fit, a golf ball indicated in dot and pick lines at 20. Thus, dependent flanges 21 extend frontwardly and downwardly from the sides of the plate 13 to define the side walls of the recess 19 while a flange 22 depends from the front edge of the plate 13 to define the rear Wall of the recess. The flanges 21 also serve to locate the m mber 12 relatively to the ground in its first position.

In use of the device the ball locating member 12 is moved, for example by the head of a putter, into its first position where it extends frontwardly from the member 1. The undersurfaces of the flanges 21 locate the member 12 in this first position. The first position of the member 12 is shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings and in dot and pick lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The ball is then placed, either manually or by the putter head, in the recess 19 where it is located in a position where the line member 6 extends exactly over its center. The ball locating member 12 is then moved upwardly pivoting relatively to the member 2 about the pin 18 to its second position where the plate 13 extends upwardly rearwardly. The member 12 is located in its second position by the end of the post 16 abutting the resilient element on the web 2. The second position of the ball locating member 12 is shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings. A putting stroke is then made moving the putter head exactly along and under the line member 6. If the ball has been struck correctly it will move under the cord throughout the length of latter and then move away along the same line in a manner which can be readily observed. Alternatively, faults of stroke and direction can readily be observed and rectified. As the player does not have to bend down to place the balls in the device repeated practice is made convenient. Strokes can be practised with reference to the line member 6 without using a ball.

A modification of the embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings is shown in FIG. 4. Here a ball locating member 23 comprises a plate 24, again of generally rectangular form and preferably made of a synthetic resin material, having its rear marginal part hingedly connected to the elongate support member 1, its side edges extending frontwardly at right angles to the member 1 and having in its front marginal part a recess 25 dimensioned to receive as a snug fit a golf ball. The inner marginal part of the plate 24 has a rectangular recess 26 and the protruding parts of the plate 24 either side of the recess 26 are bored to receive a hinge pin. A rectangular plate 27 fixed to the front flange 3 of the elongate support member 1 is also bored to receive a hinge pin. The pin passes through the said protruding parts and the plate 27 to hinge the plate 24 to the elongate support member 1. A notch 28 is formed in a side edge of the plate 25 and in this notch is detachably located a post 29 which extends vertically, in its functional position, above and below the plate 2. The post 29 comprises two sleeves 30 made of rubber, synthetic resin or other resilient material fitted over the ends of a rigid rod 31 constiuting a core. Each sleeve 30 has at its inwardly directed end a radially extending annular flange 31. The flanges 31 define between them a recess by means of which the post 29 can be slid into engagement with the plate 24, the rod 31 between the flanges 31 co-operating with the slot 28. The post 29 is prevented from moving up and down when engaged with the plate 24 by the annular flanges 31 engaging the under and upper surfaces of the plate around the slot 28. The part of the post 29 above the plate 24 is frictionally equivalent to the post 4 16 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings while the part of the post under the plate 24 is functionally equivalent to the flanges 21 in these figures. With the post 29 removed the plate 24 can fold flat against the web 2 for packing purposes.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, the device shown therein comprises an elongate support member 32 of inverted channel section, adapted in its functional position to rest on the ground, and having a web 33 and front and rear dependent flanges 34 and 35 respectively. The front flange 34 is of smaller depth than the rear flange 35 so that the web 32 slopes downwardly from rear to front. The support member 32 has at its ends arms 36 between which a line member 37 extends.

Each arm 36 consists of an angle section rod adapted to be moved between a first position where it supports the line member 37 and a second position under the web 33. Each arm has, considering it in its first position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, an upstanding vertical portion 38 and a horizontal line supporting portion 39. The lower end of the portion 38 extends through a slot 40, elongate in the direction of the member 32 and opening out at the end of the latter, and is received in bores extending through the flanges 41 of a channel bracket 42 secured to the inner surface of the front flange 34 of the member 32 (see FIG. 6 of the drawings). The vertical portion 38 of the arm 39 is located against free rotation within the flanges 41 by an abutment rod 43 which extends along and within the slot 40 when the arm 36 is in its first position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The web 44 of the bracket 42 is secured to the inside surface of the flange 34 so as to allow swivelling movement of the bracket by a nut, bolt and washer assembly 45. When it is desired to move the arm 36 to its second position under the Web 33 the assembly 45 is loosened and the bracket 42 carrying the arm is pivoted outwardly in the direction of the slot 43. The abutment rod 43 is thus removed from the slot 40 so that the portion 38 is free to rotate in the bracket 42. The pivoting movement of the bracket is continued through 270 and the arm is rotated through with the result that the arm takes up the position shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The assembly 45 can then be retightened if desired.

The embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawings also includes an automatic ball supply and delivery mechanism comprising a first trackway 46 disposed along and at the rear of the web 33 of the elongate member 32. The first trackway 46 is defined by the upturned flanges 47 of a channel section secured by its web 48 to the web 32 by a screw and nut connection 49. The first trackway serves as a magazine for golf balls to be used during practice. Abutting the inner end of the first trackway 46 a second trackway 50 extends across the web 32. The second trackway is defined by the upturned flanges 51 of a channel section fixed to the web 32. The front wall flange 47 of the first trackway 46 is cut away at 52 adjacent its abutment with a sidewall flange 51 of the second trackway and the two sidewall flanges 51 of the second trackway 50 are cut away at 53 at their rear ends. The cutaways at 52 and 53 allow for folding away a ball locating and delivery member in a manner which will be described hereinafter.

At the front of the elongate support member 31 and astride the front end of the second trackway 50 are the legs 54 of a U shaped ball locating and delivering member 55. The locating and delivering member 55 is hingedly connected to the elongate support member 32 and is movable between a first position where its front closed end abuts the ground as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings and as shown in dot and pick lines in FIG. 6, and a second position where it extends upwardly and rearwardly with its legs 54 astride the front end of the second trackway 50 as shown in dot and pick lines in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The locating and delivering member 55 has fixed to the ends of its legs 54 extension strips 56 bored to receive a pivot pin. One of the legs 54 has adjacent its end a widened portion 57, whose purpose will be described hereinafter. Fixed to the front flange 34 of the elongate support member 32 is a generally rectangular block 58 bored along its upper marginal part to receive a pivot pin. The block 58 has rectangular recesses 59 and 60 of unequal width in its upper marginal part to receive the bored ends of the strips 56 and, in the wider recess 59, also a torsion spring 61. A pivot pin '62 extends through the bores in the block and the strips 56 to connect together the ball locating and delivering member 55 and the elongate support member 32. The spring 61 acts between the block 58 and the ball locating and delivering member 55 to bias the latter upwardly to its second position.

A bowed bracing strut 63 extends between the ends of the legs of the U shaped ball locating and delivering member 55. The inner surface of closed end of the U shaped member 55 is part circular configuration at 64. The diameter of the space defined at 64 is very slightly greater than that of a golf ball so that a ball can just pass through the said closed end. The spacing between the legs 54 of the member 55 is, however, less than the diameter of a golf ball so that, when the member 55 is in the first position shown in FIG. of the drawings, the legs 54 provide an extension of the second trackway 50 extending across the web of the elongate support member 32.

A tubular stop member 65 is provided on the web 33 of the elongate support member 32 to restrain the ball locating and delivering member 55 from being biassed by the spring 61 past the said second position to a position where it rests on the web 33. The stop member 65 has one end attached to the web 33 by a screw 66 and is so fixed as to be frictionally restrained in any selected angular position relative to the screw 66. The free end part of the stop member 65 abuts the widened portion 57 of the member 55 to restrain it from moving beyond the second position.

In use golf balls are placed in the first trackway 46; one of the balls in the trackway 46 is indicated at A. The stop member 65 is adjusted to abut the widened por tion 57 on one of the legs 54 of the U-shaped ball locating and delivering member 55 to hold the latter against the bias of the spring 61 in its upright or second position. This is the position of the member 55 indicated in dot and pick lines in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A ball is then moved, for example with the head of the putter, from the first trackway 46 to the second trackway 50 which slopes downwardly and the ball hence rolls under gravity down the trackway 50 to abut the ball locating and delivering member 55. A ball in this position is indicated at B. The gravity bias of the ball is sufficient to overcome the bias of the spring 51 and the member 55 is hence moved downwardly. As the member 55 approaches its first position the ball rolls down the trackway defined by the legs 56 of the member 55. A rolling ball in this condition is indicated at C in FIG. 6. The member 55 is biased by the weight of the ball to its first position abutting the ground and more or less simultaneously the ball arrives at the closed end of the member 55 to rest on the ground. A ball in this condition is indicated at D in FIGS. 5 and 6. The gravity bias on the member 55 is thus removed and it therefore rises under bias of the spring 61, the formation at 64 allowing the member 55 to rise above the ball without disturbing the latter. The ball is thus dispensed automatically and is located in the required position directly under the line member 37. The member 55 rises until the enlarged portion 57 abuts the tubular stop member 65. The putting stroke is then practised in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings. To fold the device into a small space, as indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the stop member 65 is pivoted to an out of the way position and the member 55 laid fiat against the web 33. The cutaways 52 and 53 accommodate the closed end of the U shape.

6 The arms 36 are folded under the web 33 in the manner described previously.

The devices described above have been described as being adapted to rest on the ground. They can, of course, be used outdoors and indoors.

As a further modification of the invention the arms between which the line member referenced 5 in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings and referenced 37 in FIGS. 5 to 7 is disposed can extend longitudinally from the ends of the elongate support member so that a support member is capable of supporting a line member of greater length than itself. Thus, considering the embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawings, the arms 36 can be adapted in their first position to be 'mclined outwardly from the vertical at an angle of say 45 With the devices described above a complete putting stroke can be checked rather than, as was the case previously, the stroke merely judged by its result. Moreover, balls can be repeatedly replaced by a putting head in, or automatically dispensed to, their correct position under the line member; the need to bend down to position balls is thus obviated and the long periods of practice necessary to perfect the putting stroke made less laborious.

Also important is the fact that the putting stance can be maintained while balls are replaced in the locating member.

I claim:

1. A device for practising putting strokes comprising a support, an elongate member secured to said support for providing a sight line extending above the surface on which practising is carried out, the characteristics of said support and elongate member being such that the elongate member may be supported above the putting surface at a height permitting a golf ball to be placed on the putting surface under the elongate member and viewed as the head of a putter is moved under the member to strike the ball so that a person using the device can check the movement of his putter head and the ball by reference to the sight line, and means connected to said support for locating a golf ball under the elongate memher, in a manner such that the sight line extends exactly over the centre of the ball.

2. The device specified in claim 1 wherein the means for locating the ball comprises a locating member movable between a first position which allows a golf ball to be located in abutting relationship therewith, and a second position wherein movement of the ball and the putter head are not impeded.

3. The device specified in claim 1 wherein means are provided for automatically dispensing balls in sequence to a position under the sight line.

4. A device for practising putting strokes comprising an elongate support, parts projecting laterally from the ends of the support, an elongate member constituting a sight line extending between said parts, a first trackway on the support serving as a magazine for golf balls, a second downwardly sloping trackway on the support communicating with the first trackway, a locating member for golf balls pivotally connected to the support adjacent the lower end of the second trackway and biassing means for biassing the locating member to an out-ofthe-way position, the arrangement being that a ball can be moved by the putter head from the first trackway to the second, where it rolls downwardly to abut the locating member and overcome the bias to move the locating member to a ball-locating position under the sight line where the ball is deposited, the locating member then being returned by the bias to the second position thereof.

5. The device specified in claim 4 wherein the laterally projecting parts are foldable to a stowed-away position under the elongate support.

6. The device specified in claim 4 wherein the locating member is U shaped, a hinge at the lower end of 7 the second trackway connects the ends of the legs of the U shape to the support, a spring biasses the locating member to an upright position and the closed end of the U shape is of part circular configuration just to allow the passage of a golf ball therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,545,648 7/1925 Fletcher 273-1 92 8 I FOREIGN PATENTS 583,120 9/1959 Canada.

GEORGE J; MARLo, Primary Examiner I 

